“Routine” is a stop-motion animation that addresses my morning routine in a comical, less rushed and frantic way. It combines hundreds of photos to create something that resembles a fluid video.
            In this piece I depict the transformation that takes place every day in my bathroom. The odd expressions I make in the short are not just a sad attempt at acting; it’s actually what I tend to do in the mirror on a day-to-day basis. I make these faces because I love to laugh at myself and make other people laugh as well—practice makes perfect.
             Even thought the short is less than two minutes, going from waking up to walking out the door takes a lot of work for most women. Despite the time consuming nature of this process, we are willing to do this work because it’s what society says is women should do. The majority of girls put on makeup because they feel uncomfortable without it—ugly even.
            Although this stop-motion animation is fairly comical with the odd faces and appearing/disappearing clothes, it provides something more. It poses the question of “Why?” Why do women feel as though they cannot leave the house unless they have done a certain number of things to alter their natural look? Why do we feel compelled to impress everyone we come in contact with? Of course, I cannot speak for every woman, but this is an issue I have seen in my life as well as ones close to me. We ask ourselves, “Why do I not feel beautiful in my own skin?”